Bowl Predictions- Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas; Hyundai Sun Bowl; AutoZone Liberty Zone; Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl; and the Chick-fi-A Bowl

Five games today as we close out 2011 and then on Monday, January 2, the big games start.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas- Texas A&M vs. Northwestern
Texas A&M finished slowly, ultimately costing Mike Sherman his job. Kevin Sumlin is the new Aggie coach but he will not coach this game. Northwestern finished strongly after a mid-season skid. This game will feature two good offenses and two shaky defenses.

Parker's pick: Texas A&M
My pick: Texas A&M

If George Foreman is still the pitchman for Meineke, expect to see lots of Big George commercials during this game.


Hyundai Sun Bowl- Georgia Tech vs. Utah
Georgia Tech's triple-option offense can generate lots of yardage but Utah has a solid defense. Utah struggled in its first year in the PAC-12 and sometimes struggles on offense. But the Tech defense isn't outstanding. Based on Tech's recent bowl difficulties, it seems that when good defenses have weeks to prepare for a specialty offense, Tech can have trouble scoring enough.

Parker's pick: Georgia Tech
My pick: Georgia Tech

I test-drove a Hyundai once.


AutoZone Liberty Bowl- Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt
Cincinnati is the co-Big East Champion. Not sure that means alot anymore. But they finished well playing a backup QB for much of the year. Zach Collaros is back from injury for this game. Vanderbilt is in a bowl for only the 5th time in history. New coach James Franklin has them believing they are a good team.

Parker's pick: Cincinnati ("I'd love to pick Vandy but........")
My pick: Cincinnati

Going to the Liberty Bowl, and to Memphis, may not appeal to alot of teams but for Vandy this is a major step forward.


Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl- Illinois vs. UCLA
This is a matchup of teams with interim coaches, certainly not what bowl sponsor Kraft ever anticipated. The Illini lost its last 6 games and Ron Zook is gone. Several assistant coaches are threatening to boycott this game over the termination of their contracts. Rick Neuheisel was let go by UCLA after another disappointing season and the Bruins at 6-7 had to receive a waiver from the NCAA to qualify for this game.

Parker's pick: UCLA ("Even though they have a losing record, they won more games in their conference")
My pick: UCLA

Kraft makes a mean macaroni and cheese.


Chick-fil-A Bowl- Virginia vs. Auburn
Coach Mike London has engineered an impressive turnaround at Virginia. Both Auburn coordinators are headed elsewhere, the QB situation is unsettled and outstanding RB Michael Dyer is suspended for this game. Solid vs. unsettled is usually a clear choice but in a bowl game you never know.

Parker's pick: Virginia
My pick: Virginia

Chick-fil-A. My pleasure.

Overall Bowl Record:
Parker: 15-3; he's on a 9 game win streak; 15 wins by a total of 160 points or 10.7 points per game; 3 losses by a total of 17 points or 5.7 points per game
Me: 12-6; 12 wins by 145 points or 12.1 points per game; 6 losses by a total of 32 points or 5.3 points per game

And with the same 5 picks, I won't catch him today.

Bowl Predictions- Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl and Insight Bowl

The first full day of bowl season.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl- BYU vs. Tulsa
Two high scoring offenses should make this a fun game to watch. The team that has the ball last may win. Call this a toss-up.

Parker's pick: BYU
My pick: Tulsa

Shouldn't a military academy be playing in the Armed Forces Bowl?


New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Iowa State
Rutgers has become a perennial power in the northeast. Iowa State knocked off previously unbeaten Oklahoma State but finished 3-6 in the Big 12. That the Cyclones qualify for a bowl is a major improvement.

Parker's pick: Rutgers
My pick: Rutgers

New Era makes some really cool (and some really hideous) caps.


Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
Mississippi State has big, strong line play. Wake has lost 5 of it last 6.

Parker's pick: Mississippi State
My pick: Mississippi State

Just an FYI but mortgage rates are at near record lows.


Insight Bowl: Iowa vs. Oklahoma
When I think of Iowa or Purdue or Missouri, I think 7-5. Average, just average. Oklahoma is a college football power. Great usually beats average.

Parker's pick: Oklahoma
My pick: Oklahoma

Insight Enterprises is a information technology outsourcing enterprise. The bowl was previously named the Copper Bowl.

Bowl Predictions- Champs Sports Bowl and Valero Alamo Bowl

Champs Sports Bowl- Florida State vs. Notre Dame

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Neither team, both 8-4, thought they'd end their season on December 29 in Orlando. Not a bad place to be this time of year, but both the Seminoles and the Fighting Irish planned to play in early January 2012. Florida State has a great defense and that should be enough to win this game.

Parker's pick: Florida State
My pick: Florida State

It's been a long time since I've bought anything at a Champs store.


Valero Alamo Bowl- Washington vs. Baylor

Steve Sarkisian is turning around the Washington program but Art Briles has Baylor, thanks to Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, playing fun, electrifying football.

Parker's pick: Baylor
My pick: Baylor

I have never purchased gasoline at a Valero station.

Bowl Predictions- Military Bowl and Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

Military Bowl- Presented by Northrop Grumman: Toledo vs. Air Force

Tim Beckman has left Toledo to become the head coach at Illinois. Toledo has a solid offense but still couldn't make the MAC Championship game. The Air Force Academy runs a triple-option offense that opponents know is coming but can't seem to stop consistently.

They're the underdog and maybe I'm just being hopeful but a military academy should win the Military Bowl.

Parker's pick: Toledo
My pick: Air Force

We have a family friend who works as a government contractor for Northrop Grumman.


Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl- California vs. Texas
This game pits two big name schools from two big name conferences who finished 7-5 overall and 4-5 in their conference. Cal has played better of late while Texas, though ranked, has stumbled to the finish. Texas, however, is the favorite.

Parker's pick: Texas
My pick: Cal

Had to look this one up for details but Bridgepoint Education offers on-campus and on-line education programs.

Overall bowl record:
Parker: 7-3
Me: 7-3

Bowl Predictions- Little Caesar's Bowl and Belk Bowl

Two games tonight as the big name bowls with big name teams are now only days away.

Little Caesar's Bowl:
Not really a very appealing bowl matchup at first glance. Neither team gets much TV time in the Knoxville area. Western Michigan has a high-powered offense while Purdue is fortunate to be bowl-eligible.

Parker's pick: Western Michigan ("they have a better record")
My pick: Western Michigan

In a pinch, Little Caesar's $5.00 Hot and Ready is a great fallback.

Belk Bowl:
The inaugural bowl for the southeastern based department store, this game features an average Big East team against an average ACC team. Louisville starts lots of freshmen including QB Teddy Bridgewater. As a result, the Cardinals offense struggles to put points on the board. The NC Sate offense is the pro-style version favored by Coach Tom O'Brien and led by Mike Glennon.

Parker's pick: NC State ("their defense creates lots of turnovers").
My pick: NC State

We don't shop at Belk much.

Overall bowl record:
Parker: 6-2
Me: 6-2
At some point, I'm sure we'll differ on a game but right now, the two games we missed were by a total of 12 points. Our winners have won by an 86 point margin.

Getting no help from me, I'm starting to think Parker really knows what he's talking about.

Bowl Predictions- Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl

There are two bowl games over the next three days (tonight's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and Monday's AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl) and then the pace of bowl season picks up significantly.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl:
Nevada has racked up the yardage against lesser opponents and works from the fun-to-watch pistol attack offense but they only finished with a 7-5 record. Southern Miss is nationally ranked at 11-1, has a potent offense as well and just knocked Houston out of a BCS bowl game. However, USM's coach Larry Fedora is on his way out the door to coach North Carolina. Fedora's coming departure could make things difficult for Southern Miss but my guess is the players want to prove they're the reason for USM's success not just Fedora.

Parker's pick: Southern Miss ("It's pretty obvious they're going to win")
My pick: Southern Miss

Don't remember ever staying in a Sheraton but would love to go to Hawaii.


AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl:
This game involves two teams in transition- Missouri is headed to the SEC while UNC will have a new head coach after this game. Missouri, led by sophomore QB James Franklin, a dual run-pass threat, had to win 3 straight games to get to this bowl while North Carolina waits for Larry Fedora to arrive from Southern Mississippi.

Parker's pick: Missouri
My pick: Missouri

I had to look this up but AdvoCare V100 is a multivitamin.

Overall bowl record:
Parker: 4-2
Me: 4-2

Tonight's Bowl Prediction

Kellen Moore of Boise State is the winningest quarterback in college football history. BSU fell one field goal short in its quest for a possible BCS title game matchup. They should win easily against an Arizona State team with a losing record in the Pac-12. The combination of BSU thinking they are better than the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl and Arizona State playing above its ability under outgoing coach Dennis Erickson makes this game an upset possibility. But, we don't think that will happen.

Parker's pick: Boise State
My pick: Boise State

I hope to never need the services of MAACO, an auto body shop and collision center.

Overall bowl record:
Parker: 3-2
Me: 3-2

Tonight's Bowl Prediction

Tonight's San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl likely won't be a close game. TCU is a major college football power playing a surprising LA Tech team. Crazy things happen in bowl games, but I don't see that happening tonight.

Parker's pick: TCU
My pick: TCU

I've never been to San Diego but would love to visit; I think belonging to a credit union is a great idea; and we bought my Mom a poinsettia a few weeks ago.

Overall bowl record-
Parker: 2-2
Me: 2-2

More Bowl Predictions

Parker and I are 2-1 in our year-end bowl predictions thanks to an as-time-expired field goal by Louisiana Lafayette. Tonight, we're picking the same team again.

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl: Florida International vs. Marshall
Parker's pick: Florida International
My pick: Florida International
FIU's T.Y. Hilton is a game-changer. Marshall is 6-6 and been outscored by its opponents by almost 8 points per game.
Never eaten at a Beef 'O' Brady's but St. Pete is a beautiful destination.

Bowl Predictions

The 2011-12 bowl season begins today with three match-ups. To open bowl season, Parker and I are picking the same three winners.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Temple vs. Wyoming
Parker's pick- Temple
My pick-Temple
Playing tougher competition should help Temple, who has a better defense.
By the way, Gildan makes a good t-shirt.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Utah State
Parker's pick- Ohio
My pick-Ohio
Utah State is slightly favored in this game, but Ohio has won several games in dramatic fashion. Ohio's QB, Tettleton, just seems to make things happen.
On a side note, Parker prefers mashed potatoes. My favorites include flavored baby red potatoes. However, loaded baked potatoes and twice-bakeds are quite fine.

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl:
Parker's pick- San Diego State
My pick- San Diego State
Louisiana-Lafayette is basically playing a home game, but San Diego State has more talent.
We've never used R&L Carriers.

Great Quote Thursday

There are no experts of the future. There are only experts of the past, and they sit in the study section- Dr. John Enders

Books and Blogging

If you like/love to read books and maintain a blog, I'd suggest you check out www.booksneeze.com. It allows you a great opportunity to combine those interests.

Heisman Guessing

This evening, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner will be announced. The five finalists are: Montee Ball (RB, Wisconsin); Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor); Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford); Tyrann Mathieu (DB, LSU); and Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama).

My son, Parker, and I have written up our thoughts on the finalists and our voting projections:

Parker:
Ball: He's scored a ton of touchdowns.
Griffin: I haven't seen him alot.
Luck: He's a good thrower.
Mathieu: He won't finish first.
Richardson: Might be on the same page as Ball.

Me:
Ball: I admit I was surprised to hear he was a finalist; hadn't heard much about him until late in the season. Amazing touchdown total. Back-to-back close losses to Michigan State and Ohio State ruined the Badgers championship hopes and hurt Ball's Heisman campaign.
Griffin: Electrifying to watch. Like a smaller, quicker Cam Newton. Baylor still lost 3 games.
Luck: Could suffer from the Peyton Manning syndrome- people may be sick of hearing about him. Take him away from Stanford and that team is probably quite average.
Mathieu: Defensive back. Returner. Sophomore. One-game suspension. Not going to happen.
Richardson: Best offensive player on a great team. Recent Heisman by Mark Ingram, another Bama back (though totally unrelated) could work against him with voters. Team couldn't beat LSU at home.

Parker's Picks (how he thinks voting should go):
1. Ball
2. Richardson
3. Luck
4. Griffin
5. Mathieu

My picks (how I think voting will go):
1. Griffin
2. Luck
3. Richardson
4. Ball
5. Mathieu

Fun on Friday- More Turnerisms

My youngest son, Turner, is 4 years old. The combination of the developing sense of his world, an expanding vocabulary and a creative young mind have led to what we affectionately refer to as Turnerisms. Here a few more:

A recent conversation:
Turner: "At school today, the girl said, Don't follow me".
Me: "We're you, because we don't chase girls?"
Turner: ""Yes, but I just wanted to go down the slide. My turn was next".
Me: "Oh, we'll that's okay".

At a recent wedding reception, I had stepped away to get a drink refill. When I came back-
Turner (pointing to a man sitting a couple of chairs down from us): "He's 68".
Me: "What? He's 68? What?"
Turner: "He asked me how old I was, and I said 4, then I asked him how old he was".

Great Quote Thursday

You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within them- Bob Nelson

Leading and Inspiring a Team

In 1969, as the United States was racing to be the first country to successfully execute a manned lunar landing, the Apollo 11 mission was hours away from making history when flight director Gene Kranz, the leader of the entire mission operation, called his team together and shared the following:

"Hey gang, we're really gonna go and land on the moon today....We're about to do something that no one has ever done. Be aware that there's a lot of stuff that we don't know about the environment that we're ready to walk into, but be aware that I trust you implicitly....I know we're working in an area of the unknown that has high risk. But we don't even think of tying in this game, we think only to win, and I know you guys, if you've even got a few seconds to work your problem, we're gonna win. So let's have at it".

Here's The Point: A team will follow a leader who prepares the team well, exudes confidence in the team's ability, and who personally leads the team on the mission.

Source: Apollo: The Race to the Moon (Murray and Cox)

Catalyst Conference 2011- Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll is the Founding Pastor of Mars Hill Church, the Acts 29 Network and the Resurgence. He spoke at Catalyst on the topic of fear. Here is some of what he shared:

Fear in the mind causes stress in the body. How is stress going to help you? (Luke 12:25)

Fear is not always a sin but it is always an opportunity. When you fear someone, you cannot love them. Who has too much influence over your physical, emotional and spiritual well being? Whose opinion matters way too much to you?

Is my appetite for praise unhealthy? Am I overly devastated by criticism? Criticism in modern culture is instant, constant, global and permanent.

Are you committed to people and things that God did not call you to?

Fear is vision without hope.

Fear is not rational but it is powerful.

Fear is about getting what we don't want.

"Fear not" is the most frequently given command in Scripture. "Fear not, I am with you" is not just about facing fear but knowing that God is with us.

As Christ-followers, we've got to reset "worst-case scenarios"; if we die, we go to Jesus.

Everything may not be okay but if Jesus is with you, you'll be okay.

Just One Page

How important is Scripture to you?

What if all you had was one page of the Bible from which to study and learn God's Word? What if, upon entering a country that is closed to the Gospel, you were only able to sneak one page of the Bible into the lining of your suitcase.

Yesterday in our Bible Fellowship class, we tried something we had not done before. Last week, every person in class was given a photocopied page from the New Testament and asked to read over and pray through the passage they were given. Then yesterday, we asked people to share what God had shown them from their One Page.

It was a really great time of sharing as over a dozen people shared how God spoke to the them through their One Page this week. Some shared about how they need to be more aware of their daily testimony. One person shared about praying in thankfulness and with joy. One person shared about remembering who he was before he met Christ.

We will spend another Sunday morning looking at One Page in the future.

Being a Dad Who Cares

As a Dad of two young sons, I try to be involved in their world by knowing their friends (and their friends' parents when possible), by being involved as a youth sports coach, by volunteering in their classrooms. Because I care about my sons. And because I care about children.

Reggie Joiner, in his book The Slow Fade, writes from the perspective of the Dad of college-aged adults that he is. But this excerpt (pg. 34), though not written about being a parent of young children, summarizes why I try to be involved in my sons lives as well as those of other children:

"When I meet someone who is college-aged, I think about my kids, then I think about their parents, and I wonder what I can do that would reflect what I would want another adult to do if this were my son or daughter. It's not that I am extremely gracious or noble; it's just that I am a Dad and I have children, and I know adults who care about my kids. So I tend to care about other people's kids; it's just contagious that way".

Remembering Jeremy Frye

Today marks three years since my friend Jeremy Frye passed away as the result of complications he sustained during an accident that occurred while he was hiking.

Here is a post I wrote two years ago. The thoughts still very much apply today.

Fun on Friday- More Turnerisms

My youngest son, Turner, is 4 years old. The combination of a developing sense of his world, an expanding vocabulary and a creative young mind have led to what we affectionately refer to as Turnerisms. Here are a few more:

Turner (turning off the TV and running out of the living room): "I turned it off so it wouldn't run down the batteries".
Parker (quietly to me only): "I don't think he knows the TV doesn't run on batteries".

Turner: "If you don't let me have chips, I'll be sad. And you don't want me to be sad".

Me: "Turner, what are your 3 favorite sports?"
Turner: "Umm. Soccer. Pumpkin bowling. Eating".

Great Quote Thursday

Today, Tonya and I and several members of our church staff and their spouses attended Re:Awaken, a one-day workshop for leadership health at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. I will post more about the workshop in a future post.

For now, here's a great quote from Perry Noble- Freedom comes when you don't have anything to prove.